Former Alabama QB is feeling some kind of way about the Tennessee Vols in 2024

The Tennessee Vols made quite an impression on former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy this past weekend.

Tennessee dominated NC State in a neutral site showdown in Charlotte, winning 51-10 against an overmatched Wolfpack squad.

McElroy, who is an analyst for ESPN, said he's "bullish" on the Volunteers after Tennessee's blowout win.

"Now that they're going to get improved quarterback play, this Tennessee team goes from being a solid team, good team, to now a potentially great team," said McElroy . "All that's well and good. I thought Nico (Iamaleava) had his ups and downs in the game. But let's just acknowledge what this team really is -- they're an outfit that can kill you on defense. They can wear you out on the defensive side. And I think (NC State QB) Grayson McCall, he's going to be sore today. And that NC State offense, 143 yards of offense. That was an incredible performance by Tim Banks, his defensive staff -- he's the defensive coordinator there at Tennessee -- incredible performance. It never felt like NC State could get anything manufactured offensively, just completely locked down all over the field."

"Tennessee just completely shut them down," added McElroy. "Completely shut them down in the best possible way. Nico, we're all hyped up about his potential, as we should be. He's a young quarterback. He's going to have some growing pains. There's going to be weeks where he's elite. There's going to be weeks where maybe he isn't so good. Tennessee has the defense that will keep them in every game regardless of how their offense plays. And ultimately, hey, when you score 50, you're winning the game. But the defense gave that Tennessee offense so many different opportunities to be in those positions. And the run game and everything else. I'm very bullish with what I saw in Tennessee this past weekend. Because, hey, I know that they're gonna score -- Josh Heupel has always scored. But that defense, man, that's the difference between being a good team and an elite team. And they have guys on the defensive line that can flat out take over the game."

Tennessee has certainly turned some heads over the first two weeks of the season. But no one in East Tennessee is surprised by that. The Vols' players and coaches have talked all offseason about the team's improved depth and the strength of the defensive line.

So far, this Tennessee team is exactly what they said they'd be -- prolific on offense and suffocating on defense. Throw in the depth and it's clear this team has all of the attributes of a playoff team.

It goes without saying that there's a long way to go this season, and the Vols will have to maintain their week-by-week approach (while keeping their same intensity). But this is a squad that undoubtedly has the talent/depth to be the final team standing in 2024.

Related: NC State HC Dave Doeren explains how Josh Heupel and Tennessee surprised his team in blowout loss to Vols